It all started when...

A group of friends, family and fans began talking about the best way to honor Levon Helm's legacy in the Arkansas Delta, where he lived until music took him on the road. The immediate plan began to take shape when his actual childhood home was donated and eventually moved to it's current location in downtown Marvell, AR. While a restoration of the house was obviously part of the plan, it was decided that an original commissioned piece of art was needed to formally mark his legacy in the Delta town in which he was reared.

The most obvious choice to create a bronze bust of Levon was Arkansas native and nationally recognized artist and sculptor, Kevin Kresse. With input from friends and family, Kevin immediately began working on a clay sculpture of Levon, which is now complete and awaiting the funds for the bronzing and permanent placement in downtown Marvell.

About Kevin Kresse...

Kevin Kresse is an Arkansas native who supports his family as a painter and sculptor in Little Rock. He has exhibited his work around Arkansas and in New York, NY, Washington DC, Memphis, TN and Atlanta, GA.

Kresse has been awarded painting fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts – Mid-America Arts Alliance and the Arkansas Arts Council. He has also won several awards in the Arkansas Arts Center annual Delta competition.

Kresse’s work has been featured in articles in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the Arkansas Times, the North Little Rock Times, the Little Rock Free Press, Active Years magazine and Soiree magazine. He has also been featured in pieces produced by the local affiliates of ABC, CBS and PBS television, as well as a short film by Garret Larkin.

Kresse’s work can be found in the Hillcrest section of Little Rock at Gallery 26, 2611 Kavanaugh and on the web at kevinkresse.com.